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Edmonton's Summer Events, 2012

Edmontonians will have no shortage of things to do this summer, and we're here to help guide you through the countless concerts, festivals, and other events for the season (June 20-August 31)...

-June-

"Opera al Fresco!" is on Friday, June 22.

♥ 10 writers will each have just 5 minutes to garner your approval at June's instalment of the Edmonton Story Slam on Wednesday, June 20 (7:30PM), at the Haven Social Club (15120-Stony Plain Road). It's a free event, but there's a suggested donation of $5.

♥ Canadian comic & actor Russell Peters will take over Rexall Place on Thursday, June 21 (7:30PM), as part of his "Notorious 2012 World Tour." Tickets for the show are available at Ticketmaster.ca.

♥ Space is limited for the 2012 "Summertime Music at Muttart" event on Thursday, June 21 (6-9PM), featuring various musicians performing at the tranquil & subdued Muttart Conservatory. Tickets are $11.75 (adult).

♥ Downtown Edmonton will be taken over by the 2012 Works Art & Design Festival, from Thursday, June 21 to Tuesday, July 3. The theme for this season is "Energy II: Collaboration," and the fest will feature 53 exhibits/ installations and over 250 special events.

♥ The Edmonton Eskimos will host the B.C. Lions at Commonwealth Stadium, on Thursday, June 21. The game starts at 7PM.

♥ Chris Botti, the Wayne Shorter Quartet, Elaine Elias, and the Mike Stern Band are amongst the acts playing the 2012 Edmonton International Jazz Festival, hitting up 9 different venues throughout the city, from Friday, June 22 to Sunday, July 1.

♥ On Friday, June 22 (7PM) the Devonian Botanic Garden will host the Edmonton Opera's "Opera at Fesco!," featuring Robert Clark, Bertrand Malo, Iren Bartok, and others. Tickets are $49, or $20 for children 12 and under.

♥ Rapper and movie/TV star Mos Def (Dexter) will be performing at the Edmonton Event Centre in West Edmonton Mall, on Friday, June 22 (9PM), also featuring music by DJ Fresh. For tickets call 780-489-7469.

♥ If you're in Sherwood Park this Friday (June 22), make sure you check out the "Gift of Grace Gala" at Festival Place Theatre (100 Festival Way) at 7PM. The event, which will be highlighted by the screening of the film Grace, will help raise funds for children in the Philippines. Tix are $29.75, or $13.50 for children 12 and under.

♥ Union Events presents Corner Case & Hiccups star Brent Butt at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music on Friday, June 22 (7PM). Tickets for the stand-up show range from $28.50 (+fees) to $42.50 (+fees).

Alex Janvier's 'Suckerville' will be part of the Art Gallery of Alberta's'Indigenous Aesthetics & The Remaking of Art History' eventon Sunday, June 24.

♥ The 2012 Summer Solstice Festival kicks off on Friday, June 22 at the UofA's Convocation Hall, featuring world-class chamber/classical music performances. The 5th annual music event runs until Sunday, June 24, and tix are available online or at the door.

♥ Pioneering hip-hop trio Politic Live will be hosting their CD release party at The Pawn Shop on Whyte Ave., on Friday, June 22 (8PM). The show ($10 in advance) will also feature performances by Our Sound Machine, Stone Iris, and others.

♥ The Valley Zoo Development Society is proud to present Zoofest on Saturday, June 23 (6:30PM), showcasing the new Arctic Shores Exhibit. Tickets are $75 and include auctions, entertainment, food & sparkling wine, and much more.

♥ Celebrating 30 years, the St. Albert Farmers' Market--Western Canada's largest outdoor farmers' market--is open every Saturday (10AM-3PM) from now until October 6. The market is located on St. Anne and St. Thomas Streets.

♥ Following National Aboriginal Day (June 21), the Alberta Legislature grounds will be hosting the free, all-ages "Evening in the Park Celebration" on Saturday, June 23. It will feature an Artisan Fair (2PM), exhibits, contests, a Ceremonial Honouring (5PM), and a concert (7PM) featuring ASANI, Carl Quinn, and Georgina Lightning.

♥ On Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24 the Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park (8331-104 St.) will be home to the Edmonton Turkish Festival, featuring Turkish art, music, folk dance, and food. The event is free and starts at 10AM, going until 10PM.

♥ Four leading scholars (including Richard Williams Hill and Marcia Crosby) will gather at the Art Gallery of Alberta for a one-day symposium on art & aesthetics known as "Indigenous Aesthetics & The Remaking of Art History," on Sunday, June 24. Tix are $25-40.

♥ The Edmonton Humane Society's 20th annual "Pets in the Park" event--Edmonton's official Pet Festival--will take up William Hawrelak Park (9330 Groat Road) on Sunday, June 24. Make sure to register online and bring your pet(s)!

♥ The 20th annual "Monster Energy CMRC Motocross Nationals" will take over the Castrol Raceway on Sunday, June 24. Tickets are $25 for adults (also for seniors & youth) and $15 for children 12 and under, and are available now.

♥ Former Brooks & Dunn frontman Ronnie Dunn will be performing his solo tracks at the Jubilee Auditorium's Main Theatre on Monday, June 25 (7:30PM), presented by CISN Country 103.9. Tickets are $45.50 & $69.50 (plus fees).

Country singer Ronnie Dunn is at the Jubilee on June 25.

♥ Starting on Tuesday, June 26 the 2012 Freewill Shakespeare Festival will invite theatre fans to the Hawrelak Park amphitheatre, where performers will act out legendary Shakespeare plays (Julius Caesar and The Tempest) until Sunday, July 22. Tickets and passes available at Tix on the Square.

♥ For two nights only, Zachary Stevenson will take centre stage at the Century Casino (13103 Fort Road) for "The Buddy Holly Concert," from Friday, June 29 to Saturday, June 30. Tickets for the show are $29.95, or you can add $30 for dinner too!

♥ korn, Afrojack, Kaskade, Billy Talent, Puddle of Mudd, and the Crystal Method are amongst the big names who'll be playing the 2012 Boonstock Music & Arts Festival in Gibbons, from Friday, June 29 to Sunday, July 1. Unfortunately, tickets are sold-out, so....

♥ Pop-Up Dance Works, Feats Masquerade, Global Dance, and a Dance Magic Video Contest are amongst the events set to go for the 2012 Feats Festival of Dance, being held at various Edmonton locations from Friday, June 29 to Saturday, July 14. Most shows are free of cost.

♥ The Edmonton Eskimos will host the Toronto Argonauts at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday, June 30 (7PM), before they head off to Saskatchewan on July 8.

♥ Edmonton's own TV stuntman Ryan Stock is coming home to put on his "Guinea Pig" show at The Pawn Shop (on Whyte Ave.), on Saturday, June 30 (8PM). The show ($10 in advance) will also feature his Discovery Channel co-host Amber Lynn. (See video below).

Below is a clip featuring Edmonton's own Ryan Stock performing some of his "tricks." he will be at The Pawn Shop on June 30.

-July-

♥ There will be many events for Canada's 144th birthday (Sunday, July 1), including City Hall activities (11:30AM-4PM), Dominion Day at Fort Edmonton Park (10AM-6PM), the Silly Summer Parade (Noon-3:30PM), and of course, the Fireworks Finale (11PM). For more information and more events click here.

♥ If you wanna take a break from the city, you can celebrate July 1st at the second annual Alberta Beach Canada Day Celebration, which is free and an all-ages event. The ceremony begins at 11AM and includes a Cadets & Flag Ceremony, live music, comic relief (Justin Littlechild), and fireworks (10PM).

♥ K-97 presents "The Queen Extravaganza: The Official Queen Tribute Show" at the Jubilee Auditorium on Tuesday, July 3, featuring music of legendary rockers Queen. Tickets for the event are currently on sale and go for $39.50 (+ s/c), available at Ticketmaster or Union Events.

♥ It's that time of the year, when street artists from around the world come together at Sir Winston Churchill Square for the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival, which goes on from Friday, July 6 to Sunday, July 15. The more than 1,500 outdoor performances are free!

♥ Comedian and author Bill Maher (Politically Incorrect) will be performing at the Jubilee Auditorium (11455-87 ave.) on Friday, July 6 (8PM). Tickets for the all-ages show are on sale now and are available through Ticketmaster ($49-75).

♥ From Friday, July 6 to Sunday, July 8, Hawrelak Park will be host to the 2012 Edmonton Triathlon Festival, which will offer fast-paced races for elite, junior elite, age group, Kids of Steel, paralympic, and team relay athletes. It is the only Canadian stop on the ITU World Cup Tour.

♥ In support for the Dogs With Wings Society, Water Works Ponds will host the 11th annual 'Parade of Ponds Tour' on Saturday, July 7 (9AM-5PM) and Sunday, July 8 (10AM-5PM), featuring more than 40 water gardens throughout the city. Call 780-433-6671 for tix.

The Choralies Internationales Edmonton 2012 festivalwill be held at various locations July 8-15.

♥ The Edmonton Z Car Club is a non-profit society dedicated to the preservation & restoration of Nissan and Datsun Z sports cars, and is throwing their 18th annual 'Z Club Show & Shine' at the Aviation Museum (Kingsway) on Sunday, July 8 (Noon-3PM). Spectators are allowed in for free, but it costs $20 to register your car, with proceeds going to the Rainbow Society.

♥ Conservatory students, alumni, and faculty will be performing on Sunday, July 8 (2PM-) as part of the 'Connections Concert Series' at Muttart Hall (10050-MacDonald Drive) in Alberta College. The concert is $10 (free for children 12 and under) and will be broadcast on CKUA 94.9FM.

♥ Legendary Canadian impressionist Rich Little is coming to the Century Casino (13103-Fort Road) on Sunday, July 8 (7PM) for his show Jimmy Stewart-A Humorous Look at His Life. Tickets for the no minors show are $44.95.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE EVENTS...

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